Whether you are applying for a new job, grad school, or a scholarship, you will eventually need a letter of recommendation. Asking someone to write one for you can feel intimidating, but remember: managers and professors write these all the time. It is a normal part of their job.
The secret to getting a great recommendation letter is making it as easy as possible for the person writing it.
Who to ask
Do not ask the CEO of your company if they don't know your name. A generic letter from a VIP is much less effective than a detailed, enthusiastic letter from your direct supervisor.
Ask someone who:
- Has directly supervised your work or graded your assignments.
- Can speak to specific projects you completed.
- Has a generally positive view of your work ethic.
The 3 rules of asking
- Ask early: Give them at least two to three weeks' notice. Do not email them on a Thursday asking for a letter by Friday.
- Give them an "out": Always give them a polite way to say no. Ask if they feel they know your work well enough to write a strong recommendation. If they say no, you dodged a mediocre letter.
- Provide a "cheat sheet": When they agree, send them your updated resume and a bulleted list of 2-3 specific projects you worked on together. This saves them from having to remember what you did three years ago.
Template: Asking a former manager
Use this template when asking a former boss or supervisor for a professional reference.
Subject: Recommendation request for [Your Name]
Hi [Manager's Name],
I hope you're doing well! I saw on LinkedIn that the team recently launched [Project/Feature]—huge congratulations on that.
I am currently applying for [Job Title] roles, and I am reaching out to ask if you would feel comfortable writing a strong letter of recommendation for me. Given our time working together on the [Specific Project], I thought you would be a great person to speak to my skills in [Skill 1] and [Skill 2].
I know you are incredibly busy, so if you don't have the bandwidth right now, I completely understand. If you are open to it, I can send over my updated resume and a few bullet points highlighting the work we did together to make writing it easier.
The deadline for the letter is [Date]. Let me know if this is something you would be open to.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Template: Asking a professor
Professors have hundreds of students. You must remind them who you are and what class you took.
Subject: Letter of Recommendation Request - [Your Name] - [Class Name/Number]
Dear Professor [Last Name],
I hope you are having a great semester.
I was a student in your [Class Name] during the [Fall/Spring Year] semester, where I wrote my final paper on [Topic of your paper]. I am currently applying to [Name of Grad Program / Job], and I am writing to ask if you would be willing to provide a letter of recommendation for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed your class, and the feedback you gave me on my research project heavily influenced my decision to pursue this field. If you feel you know my academic work well enough to write a strong recommendation, I would be incredibly grateful.
I have attached my current resume and my final paper from your class for your reference. The deadline for submission is [Date].
Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
[Your Name]